The incredible natural beauty of the area is reason enough for anyone interested in a holiday in Tuscany to immediately go browse our listings and find a vacation rental in the Val D’Orcia. This is the picture-perfect Tuscany of your dreams; the lush rolling hills punctuated by medieval hilltop towns, winding roads, lines of cypresses, olive groves, vineyards, and pretty stone farmhouses. It is a place where every vista is picturesque and worth framing, though some particular spots have become especially famous and sought out to be photographed among savvy travellers who are after the perfect shot. One such spot is the Oak delle Checche, a very famous and protect oak tree.
A whopping 370 years old, this massive oak tree is a beloved local landmark that was damaged back in 2014 when a group climbed a branch and it broke off under their combined weight. Though unintentional vandalism, the act scared locals who became concerned that the oak should be better protected and, after a campaign to the government, it was recognised as a living landmark by the Minister of Cultural Heritage in 2017 in order to ensure its safety. It is the first “green monument” and is now being safeguarded for the future.
To find the giant and beautiful tree, take the road heading south from Pienza to Chianciano Terme. Lined with cypress trees and surrounded by fields that fill with crops of bright red poppies in spring, it eventually leads to the Quercione of Checche, or the Gigantic Oak of Checche, a named that comes from the magpies that nest in the branches and are called “cecche” or “checche” in local dialect. Huge and impressive, it is a stunning green canopy in spring and summer, a golden gem in autumn, and, when it is bare in the winter, its complex system of branches is perfectly on display. If you are exploring the area, seek out this amazing gem but be sure to respect it and not to harm it or the incredible natural beauty of Tuscany in any way!
To find the giant and beautiful tree, take the road heading south from Pienza to Chianciano Terme. Lined with cypress trees and surrounded by fields that fill with crops of bright red poppies in spring, it eventually leads to the Quercione of Checche, or the Gigantic Oak of Checche, a named that comes from the magpies that nest in the branches and are called “cecche” or “checche” in local dialect. Huge and impressive, it is a stunning green canopy in spring and summer, a golden gem in autumn, and, when it is bare in the winter, its complex system of branches is perfectly on display. If you are exploring the area, seek out this amazing gem but be sure to respect it and not to harm it or the incredible natural beauty of Tuscany in any way!
Photo credit: LigaDue / CC BY-SA 4.0
